Paper clip



Nam 13 9 E923. HAMAQZ L. H. ASHMORE PAPER CLIP Filed NOV. 2'? 192G Patented New. l3, lm

LEON E. ASEHQBE, @F COEMNGBWUOD; HEW amiss.

PAPER GLIDE.

application flied November e7, ieao. Berton no. secret.

Toall whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LEON H. Asnmonn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Collingswood, Camden County, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper Clips, of which the fol owing is a specification.

I My invention relates to paper retaining ch 5 and other similar forms of temporary holding devices, and one object of my invention is to reduce the friction of the joint between the gri ping plates or jaws which is embraced by t e compression spring memher; the surface contact of the joint-forming elements forming one feature of my invention being of minimum extent.

A further object of In invention is to cheapen the cost of menu acture by cutting down the amount of metal employed in the formation of the joint of the gripping plates or jaws as well as the expense of pressin or otherwise shaping the same, and a still urther object of my invention is to provide a construction that will insure complete parallelism in the contacting portions of the gripping plates or jaws, in order that they may completely efiect their intended function.

These and other features of my invention are more fully described hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

igure l, is a front elevation of one form of paper-clip having and containing the improvements forming the subject of my invention.

Fig. 2, is a sectional plan view on the line Ill-ll, Fig.

Fig. 3, is a sectional elevation on the line llll--lll, Fig. i.

Fig. l, is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing the gripping plates or jaws in the open position.

Fig. 5, is a view similar to Fig. 3. but showing gripping plates or jaws slightly difiering in shape, and

Fig. 6, is a similar view-of a paper-clip within the scope of my invention with which a larger sized compression spring may be employed.

. In the drawings, 1 and l represent gripping plates or jaws which are usually exactly alike in shape, size and contour. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and at, these plates may he curved at one edge, as indicated at 2 and 2 jaws are provided such edges being provided with pro 'ectin other. In addition, the gripping plates or i with projecting handles or members 4 and 4:, which ma be substantially centrally disposed an continuous therewith and in the same plane, whereby the gripping plates or jaws of the clip may be manipulated.

The projections 3 and 3, aredisposed outwardly with respect to the curved portions 2 and 2 of the gripping plates or aws, and are preferably so connected to the latter as to form shoulders which provide seats 5 and 5 for engagement by a compression spring 6 of tubular clamping type, which may be oi the spmie length as the gripping plates or aws H The parts so described are substantially the same as those employed in paper-clips of the same general character. In the prior structures, however, the-engaging parts between the grippin plates or aws, or what may be technica ly termed the hinge joint, have been of enlarged extent and subject to considerable friction. This has resulted in the formation of a very stin? joint, and in opening the clip considerable force has been necessary since not only must the spring pressure be overcome but the "friction of the parts making up the hingejoint must also he overcome.

My invention comprises the provision or means to form the desired hinge joint between the gripping plates or jaws a min imum amount of material, simplicity of arrangement, minimum friction and maximum ease of operation. To this end, the projectmg portions 3 and 3 of the gripping plates or jaws l and i may he cupped as indicated at l and 7; the cupped portions forming pockets or seats for the reception of hearing elements 8, which may he balls on the type usually employed in ball-bearings. these hearing elements are in place, the projections 3 and 3 of the gripping plates or jaws l and l are sli htly separated, as indi cated in Fig. 3, and the ap lication oi the clamping spring member 6 liolds the gripping plates or jaws together and confines said bearing elements in their pockets or seats 7 and l By the use of small independent hearing elements hetween the gripping plates or jaws, the amount of contacting surface in v the hinge-joint of the clip is' reduced to a minimum, with consequent reduction in fricwhen the gripping plates or jaws are opened I or closed. v

In thedforitnh of structurelshown in Figs. 1 2, 3 an 4, e grip ing ates or jaws are rovided with curvetfportibns 2 and 2, ad-

acent the clamping spring. Such design,

owever, is not material, and in Fi 5, I have shown another form of clip w erein that part of these grippin plates or jaws corresponding to the curve portion 2 or 2, of the structure shown in Figs. 1, 2, et seq., lies in a plane substantiall at right angles to the same; the balance 0 the construction being substantially like that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. L

n Fig. 6 I have shown a construction in which the clampin spring is of much larger size than in the orms illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and instead of engaging seats at the shoulders formed by the projections 3 and 3, such spring engages the broad faces of the ripping plates or jaws 1 and 1'; and the latter may be provided with longitudinal ribs 9 and 9, forming, abutments for e agement by the free edges of the tubular ampi spring. In this type of structure, the spring is of such size as to necessitate aperturing of the same for the passage of the handles 4 and 4 of the clip where y it may be manipulated.

I prefer the use of spherical bearing elements in forming the hinge-joint between the gripping plates or jaws. It is obvious, however, since the movement of the gri ping 'aws is in a si 1e plane, that smal cylln ical objects mig t be employed in the pockets or seats 7 and 7; the latter being correspondingly altered in shape; hence my claims are to be construed as covering the spherical elements described as well as small rollers arranged to operate in a similar manner and the use of any equivalent element in combination with a construction capable of performing a similar function.

The two-point contact of the spherical bearin elements or their equivalent between the gripping plates or jaws, in connection with the compression spring which holds the gripping plates in firm engagement with said spherical elements, insure that the edges of said grippin plates or 'aws will be kept in absolute para lelism, an as long as the compression spring is in position to hold the parts of the clip together; these gripping plates or jaws will not become dlstorted.

While I have described m improved aper-clip as a complete arti e of man acture and intended more particularl for holding loose sheets of paper and similar objects, it will be understood that either one of the clamping plates or jaws ma be permanently attached to a suitable bac g or sup ort, and that in either instance, the free e ges of the gripping plates or jaws may be notched or serrated for the purpose ofefi'ecting a more secure hold upon an object gripped between the same if desired for any purpose.

I claim:

1. A paper-clip, comprising plates forming gripping jaws, a clamping spring for confining said plates in gripping engagement, and a ball-bearing joint for said gripping plates. I

2. paper-clip, comprising a pair of plates forming gripping jaws and mounted for movement with respect to each other, a ball-bearing joint for said gripping plates, and a tubular clamping spring embracing said joint and serving to hold said plates in gripping engagement.

3. A paper-clip, comprising a pair of plates forming gri ping jaws and mounted for movement wit respect to each other, a pair of balls dispiosed between said gripping plates upon w ich the latter may turn, and a tubular clamping spring embracin the ball-engaging portion of said plates and serving to hold the latter in gripping engagement.

4. A paper-clip, comprising a pair of.

plates forming gnppm 'aws, a clam ing spring for holding orie ed of said plates in gripping engagement, a 'nged proections carried by the opposite edges of said plates, and independent members interposed between said aligned projections and constituting bearing elements upon which said plates may rock.

5. A paper-clip, comprising plates forming gripping jaws, operating handles connected to sald gripping plates, aligned projections having depressions forming seats carried by said plates, bearing members disposed in said seats and separating the plates, and a compression spring for holding said plates together and in gripping engagement with said bearing members.

6. A paper-clip, comprising a pair of gripping jaws, lateral projections carried by said jaws adjacent the ends of the same; said pro'ections being disposed in alignment an cupped to form seats or pockets bearing elements disposed in said seats and separating the gripping jaws, and a clamp ing spring embracing said rojections and ho ding themin contact with the bearing elements; said projections being arranged to form shoulders for engagement by the clamping spring.

:7. paper-clip, comprising a pair of grlpplng jaws, operating handles carried in between ali thereby, lateral pro'ections carried by said jaws on opposite si es of said handles; said projections bein cupped to form seats or pockets, spherical bearing elements disposed 5 in said seats and separating the gripping jaws, and a clamping spring embracing said projections and holding them in contact with the spherical bearing elements; said projections being arranged to form shoul- 1" ders for engagement by the clamping spring.

8. A paper clip, comprising a pair of plates forming rlpping aws, spring means for holding sai plates in gripping engagement, and independent members interposed ed seats form d in the meeting edges of sald plates and constituting bearing elements upon which said plates may rock; said bearing elements being coed in place by said spring means.

9. A paper 011p comprising a pair of plates forming gripping jaws, clampiw means tending to hold one edge of sai plates in gripping engagement, and a pair of independent members set at separated points and interposed between the opposite meeting edges of said plates; said members specification.

LEON H. ASHMURE.

bein% interposed between aligned seats cara 

